Once again, Pikesville’s Chizuk Amuno Congregation hosted the Howard W. Brill Memorial Blood Drive, the nation’s largest Jewish institution-sponsored blood drive.
More than 100 donors participated in the Jan. 15 event, which is held six times a year at Chizuk Amuno and saves up to 1,800 lives annually.
The most recent drive marked the first time Chizuk Amuno partnered with Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency services system, through American Friends of Magen David Adom, along with Blood Centers of America and its regional affiliate, Blood Bank of Delmarva.
The blood collected will be used to help those in need locally. If Israel suffers due to war or another unforeseen emergency, Blood Centers of America will send blood to Israel.
For several years, the Brill Memorial Blood Drive has been spearheaded by Pikesville residents Warren and Fran Gould, who belong to Chizuk Amuno.
At last week’s event, approximately 68 donors gave whole blood while at least 22 participated as “power red donors,” providing larger amounts of red blood cells to help trauma victims, newborns and patients with sickle cell disease.
“This new partnership with AFMDA infuses — pun intended — additional joy into our community because we’re also providing an insurance policy for Israel’s blood reserves should Israel ever be in dire need,” said Warren Gould.
Added Fran Gould: “It’s not every day that I get to save three lives, let alone help others do the same. Everyone can be a superhero.”
Chizuk Amuno’s Rabbi Joshua Z. Gruenberg, praised the collaboration between his synagogue and AFMDA.
“This partnership embodies the Jewish imperative of pikuach nefesh — the sacred obligation to save life — by responding to the urgent blood shortage here in America while affirming our community’s enduring bond and responsibility to the State of Israel,” he said.
Northwest Baltimore resident Ira Gewanter, AFMDA’s director of major gifts, helped orchestrate the partnership with Chizuk Amuno, working closely with the Goulds and Alison Gardy, AFMDA’s director of external and partner relations.
“This blood drive speaks to our core values because all the blood donated will save lives for anyone in need here in Maryland, mirroring Magen David Adom’s parallel mission saving civilian lives without any prejudice based on race, religion, gender, or political affiliation,” said Gewanter.
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